Rue’s Hardbound and Soft Cover Albee Play

Rue was a fan of Edward Albee; who isn’t? She knew Mr. Albee personally, and actually introduced me to him at the Drama Desk Awards one year. I had read some of his early work in the ’70s and thought he must be a mad man, so it was a pleasant surprise to find him completely normal and seemingly sane. Here are two versions of the same play from Rue’s library, one softcover and the other hard. The hardbound volume belonged to someone Rue worked with on a project and she signed it over to Rue – there is in inscription in the front, as you can see – and that was when Rue first came to know the work of the writer many consider to be the best living playwright alive today. Rue’s pair of Albee plays come on the same Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.

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At one point after she moved back to New York City, the plans were in the works for Rue to release her own doll. We aren’t sure if the company that made this particular doll was the company she was working with, or if she was just using this one as a template for her doll, but this is the piece Rue was creating off of. Inside the box we found Rue’s original sketches and notes for the wardrobe design for her own doll. Naturally, the outfits are all things Rue wore and had in her own closet. This doll measures 16″ tall and about 4″ wide. The doll will come with Rue’s original design sketches and measurement notes – perhaps you can sew and complete Rue’s ideas? – and also a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.

Here is one of those wonderful little souvenir cards that many restaurants used to offer, but are very rare these days. The “World Famous Turkish Kitchen” shot a Polaroid of Rue and her then sixth husband when they came in for dinner one night. Rue looks fabulous in the photo, and we think she is wearing an outfit from “The Golden Girls!” The Polaroid measures 3.5″ x 4.25″ and the whole card is 4.5″ x 6.25″. Rue’s “Turkish Kitchen” memento comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.

In 1989 Rue made a movie entitled “The Man in The Brown Suit.” Although the action is supposedly set in South Africa, it was actually filmed in Spain. Since she was so close, Rue hopped over to Africa, to Morocco, and did some site seeing. Naturally, being Rue, site seeing included shopping, and she purchased this wooden bead purse during her trip. The bag measures 5″ x 8″ with a 22″ strap. It comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

These red velvet lounging pajamas are over-the-top! How glamorous can anyone be? It is almost required that one walks around carrying a martini in an up glass when you wear something like this! We suspect Rue wore these in a theatrical production because the draw string was pulled out and an elastic waistband sewn in, which is usually what a costumer will do to facilitate the quick changes needed on the stage. The two-piece outfit was made by “The Pajamagram Company” and it comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.

We believe this beaded necklace is made by the woman who Rue bought most of her beaded jewelry from, and we think that might be her with Rue in the picture. What her name is, we haven’t a clue. Anyway, this 23.5″ beaded necklace is relatively simple and delicate. It has pink and green glass beads, and then what appear to be tiny freshwater pearls or pearl-type beads and then some little gold colored balls. Rue had commented in the past that all this woman’s jewelry was quite expensive – partially because each piece was a one-of-a-kind, but also because of the fine materials she used – so we might be giving treasures away again, but we believe once in awhile a gamble with pricing is in order because the worst case scenario is: one of Rue’s fans gets a great deal on a treasure – and that isn’t a bad thing. Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.

Rue and Bob Hope worked together when he did an episode of “The Golden Girls” in the late 1980s; Mr. Hope adored Rue and the feeling was mutual. Years later, in the mid ’90s, Mr. Hope asked Rue to appear on one of his television specials and, of course, she was thrilled to do so. This portrait was taken during that appearance. Trivia Fact #1 – Rue used this portrait in her memoir and the publisher’s tag is still on the back. Trivial Fact #2 – Rue was wearing a dress from a episode of “The Golden Girls” when she went on Mr. Hope’s show! This original 8″ x 10″ portrait comes with prints of the photos posted and a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.